100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 543 - Big Progress

A half-year period elapsed.

Over these six months, Lootwell's development settled into a steady rhythm.

Progress no longer arrived in sudden, dramatic bursts, but rather in well-organized waves.

New branches unfurled progressively across the West Continent.

Each branch developed its own distinct character, yet all bore the unmistakable imprint of Lootwell's operational order.

Representatives were selected with meticulous care.

Lucien provided his final approval for key appointments, though increasingly, he simply reviewed the recommendations and gave his assent.

Lootwell itself had cultivated the ability to identify suitable candidates.

This capability proved significant.

Concurrently, the Crafting Division experienced a terrifying escalation in its capabilities with each passing month.

The deployment of mass-production machinery surged.

Rurik's automaton assembly lines emerged as one of the most astonishing advancements.

Initially, external observers regarded automatons as mere novelties.

Then, they witnessed their performance.

These automatons exhibited no fatigue, voiced no complaints, maintained unwavering concentration, and lacked any inclination towards vices like drinking, casual gossip, squandering delivery timelines through gambling, or adopting a philosophy of 'good enough.'

This alone rendered them revolutionary.

Rurik oversaw their production with a fervor that was almost frightening. The versions made available for external sale remained intentionally limited, naturally. While useful, durable, obedient, efficient, and impressive, they never matched the capabilities of the internal models utilized by Lootwell's own territory.

Nevertheless, even these less advanced versions achieved widespread fame almost instantaneously.

One particular merchant house acquired a consignment for their warehouse logistics, resulting in a reduction of their loading times by over half within a single week.

A mining clan procured several units for ore transportation and promptly placed an order for additional automatons.

A sect purchased a set for routine maintenance of their formations, subsequently attempting to conceal the profound impact these automatons had on their internal budget calculations.

It was already too late.

The secret was out.

Automatons were no longer considered unusual; they were now in high demand.

Furthermore, the communication devices had advanced even more dramatically.

By this point, the initial cultural shock had subsided.

The West Continent no longer viewed these communication devices as miraculous trinkets requiring constant, astonished observation. They had seamlessly integrated into everyday life.

The world had not yet fully grasped this shift, but an unconscious habit had taken root.

Individuals no longer questioned if they needed communication devices.

Instead, they inquired why they lacked superior models.

It was at this juncture that Lucien recognized the successful completion of the initial phase.

•••

The Scarlet Sect emerged as the primary testament to another strategic approach.

Through some means, Raven managed to persuade the Scarlet Sect to relinquish its Origin Core fragment.

Upon the fragment's eventual arrival at Lootwell, Lucien regarded it briefly before a smile spread across his face.

That single decision fundamentally altered the Scarlet Sect's trajectory.

Lootwell did not simply take without giving compensation.

The Scarlet Sect was elevated to the status of an official, deeply integrated ally.

The benefits became evident within mere months.

The Scarlet Sect gained preferential access to products unavailable on the open market: enhanced communication devices, higher-grade medicinal elixirs, superior automaton assistance, specialized training regimens, and priority repair services.

And most crucially—

limited authorization to access deeper zones within Lootwell's domain.

The Grand Archives.

The Scarlet Sect was granted supervised access to study select Law Books.

This privilege alone nearly overwhelmed their elders with emotion.

The impact was immediate and profound.

Individuals who had been stagnant for years suddenly discovered their subsequent path forward. Cultivators lacking conceptual clarity finally grasped the nuances of how their laws should adapt. Several elders who had resigned themselves to dying before reaching higher realms found their previously insurmountable bottlenecks starting to yield in less than a month.

By the conclusion of the first quarter, the Scarlet Sect witnessed a discernible surge in the number of newly Ascended cultivators.

Within half a year, its overall strength had advanced so dramatically beyond its prior standing that the Maereth Region could no longer maintain its pretense of evaluating it using established hierarchical metrics.

The Scarlet Sect ascended to become the preeminent sect within the Maereth Region.

Following this, Raven dispatched a communication.

[I suspect the patriarch is suppressing a grin in public.]

Lucien responded:

[Allow him his moment of satisfaction. He brokered a favorable exchange.]

And indeed, he had.

The Origin Core fragment represented symbolic power.

Lootwell, in return, had provided them with tangible, actionable power.

Naturally, Lucien allowed rumors of this transaction to circulate.

The Scarlet Sect had ceded an Origin Core fragment to Lootwell and, in recompense, secured a deep alliance.

That was the extent of the disclosed information.

The outcome surpassed any form of conventional advertisement.

Other sects began to inquire about similar possibilities.

Could comparable arrangements be explored? Would Lootwell consider acquiring additional fragments? What degree of access would be granted? Would the alliance encompass protective measures? Would strategic product provisions be offered? Would preferential treatment for establishing branches be included?

Lucien's smile widened as the first formal request arrived.

Subsequently, another followed.

And then another.

Within a span of six months, Lootwell had amassed over a dozen more Origin Core fragments through meticulously negotiated exchanges.

These were the kinds of deals where both parties departed with the conviction of having emerged victorious, although Lucien harbored a strong confidence in his own superior gains.

Nevertheless, his motivations extended beyond mere avarice.

The fragments of the Origin Core, it was understood, could not be allowed to remain scattered indefinitely. Lucien possessed no concrete knowledge of the total number of these fragments existing on the side of the Thousand Races. However, a crucial realization dawned upon him: if the Black Mass monsters managed to accumulate too many, the precarious balance would tilt even more unfavorably. Furthermore, with the Black Mass now possessing awakened consciousness, it would lend its support more directly to its own monsters than in the past. Fragments falling into foolish hands could serve as mere bait, while those in evil hands might become gateways. In desperate hands, they could spell utter disaster. Lucien's objective was clear: he needed to gather these fragments before any opposing powers could seize them first. Thus, the strategy was straightforward: present an incentive superior to simple hoarding, render the surrender of fragments a profitable endeavor, make an alliance appear highly desirable, and ensure the old symbol seemed insignificant compared to the future prosperity Lootwell could offer. This approach proved effective. With every new fragment integrated into the Origin Core Shrine, the network's depth increased, the signal's reach expanded, and its authority grew more pronounced. By the time the merged entity comprised nearly fifty fragments, even Lucien perceived a palpable difference when he stood before it. The Origin Core was transcending its role as mere infrastructure; it was evolving into a continental nervous system. ••• Over those same months, Lucien and Seran continued their peculiar pastime: hunting dungeon batteries. They made no grand pronouncements regarding these activities. Instead, they would periodically vanish into the void, only to return with sealed abominations that would have prompted lesser civilizations to declare a national week of prayer. These horrors were then fed into the Ascension Spire with the practiced efficiency of individuals who had long ago blurred the lines between peril and the acquisition of resources. Following several such expeditions, the Spire underwent further transformation. Its upper echelons expanded, finally enabling the Ascension Spire to accommodate training environments and replicate monsters up to the Ninth Stage of the Celestial Realm. Upon the internal dissemination of this news, the battle-hardened enthusiasts of Lootwell reacted precisely as anticipated. They erupted in celebration as if presented with a holiday dedicated entirely to martial exploits. The establishment of Eternal-level environments, however, remained a completely separate challenge. This undertaking still presented considerable difficulty, necessitating an immense quantity of essence, more potent dungeon batteries, and a degree of stability that Lucien was reluctant to compromise. He possessed the capability to force a crude approximation if he so desired, but a poorly constructed Eternal-level dungeon environment would not serve as effective training; it would be either a mockery or precipitate a mass casualty event. Neither outcome held any appeal for him. Nevertheless, the Spire was approaching the pinnacle of its Celestial phase development. And owing to the burgeoning authority of the Origin Core, Lucien uncovered an additional functionality: suppression consent. This allowed individuals possessing strength exceeding that of a dungeon level to enter, provided they voluntarily suppressed their power to align with the designated range. This was not akin to conventional restriction arrays; it was a more refined and precise mechanism. The Origin Core did not merely enforce a reduction in power; it facilitated a temporary accord between the entrant, the seal, the dungeon, and the floor's authority. The user's consent was obtained, the dungeon implicitly accepted, and the Origin Core meticulously stabilized the boundary. Consequently, even individuals at the Eternal level could now access the Ascension Spire, under the condition of agreed-upon self-suppression. The initial instance of Solar Concordium attempting this resulted in his near-refusal to depart. ••• Solar Concordium made his appearance a few months after the world regained its memories. Naturally, his primary motivation was combat. Lucien had fully anticipated this. The man entered Lootwell with an expression that conveyed his intention to issue a challenge. Subsequently, he observed the territory. By the conclusion of the first day, his expression had undergone a noticeable shift. By the end of the second day, he had entered the Ascension Spire. And by the end of the third day, he was thoroughly captivated. The suppression mechanism particularly enthralled him. For someone who wielded the Law of Combat, the ability to cleanly suppress one's own power and experience combat as if ascending from humble beginnings was not merely a source of amusement; it was akin to devout worship. He engaged in battles as a mere mortal, then as a practitioner of Metamorphosis, followed by Transcendent, and then Ascendant. He repeated this process, cycle after cycle. Each level, each imposed limitation, each forced curtailment of advantage, restored to him something he had nearly forgotten: the essence of honest struggle within clearly defined parameters. Solar Concordium remained within the Spire for an entire month. At some indeterminate point, one of his attendants dispatched a message from his domain, inquiring about his intended return. His reply was succinct: [When I am finished.] The attendant, undeterred, followed up with a query regarding the expected timeframe for this completion. Solar Concordium offered no response. Lucien found this particular situation immensely amusing. Upon his eventual emergence, Solar Concordium’s attire bore signs of wear, his aura radiated a sharper intensity, his eyes gleamed with newfound brightness, and his grin suggested a rejuvenation of centuries of long-dormant enthusiasm. He proceeded directly to Lucien and presented an Origin Core fragment before him. Lucien regarded the fragment, then met Solar Concordium's gaze. Solar Concordium spoke, stating, "For the Spire." Lucien observed him for a moment before nodding with profound solemnity.

"Unrestricted access."

Solar Concordium’s lips curved into a smile.

"Good."

The negotiation concluded just like that.

Later, Eirene reviewed the contract, commenting, "That was hardly diplomacy."

Lucien responded, "It was a spiritual bribe exchanged between honorable men."

She considered his words.

Then, she formally approved the agreement.

•••

The ancient beasts were also accounted for during those preceding months.

One by one, Lucien returned to those who remained within the cage of the Eternal of Stillness.

By then, the lesson had long since been absorbed.

The Titan and Behemoth had served as stark examples, and the initial contracted beasts provided irrefutable proof.

Refusal no longer held the same inherent dignity it once possessed.

Consequently, the final dozens agreed to Concord Pacts.

Lucien then made a specific request of them.

They were to serve as protectors.

Their duties included stabilizing branches, guarding vital connections, deterring hostile forces, and acting as living testament that Lootwell was not expanding without purpose or control.

In exchange, Lucien pledged them a hundred years of freedom.

After this century, once the structure had solidified and the world had adapted to Lootwell’s expanded influence, they would possess the autonomy to dissolve their pacts and forge their own destinies.

This proposal came as a surprise to some.

And, quite unexpectedly, it fostered a greater willingness within them to serve diligently.

Coerced loyalty had its limitations.

Acknowledged value instilled a sense of pride.

By the time half a year had elapsed, every ancient beast that had once endured imprisonment under Stillness was liberated from its confinement and assigned a vital purpose.

Lootwell’s branches subsequently became significantly more resilient to threats.

•••

Meanwhile, Lucien’s own followers continued their remarkable growth.

This, perhaps more than all the accumulated wealth, burgeoning branches, or scattered fragments, represented the most alarming development.

For Lootwell did not simply generate commodities; it cultivated power.

Vivian was among the first individuals Lucien personally nurtured.

He fashioned an untainted vessel for her, precisely as he had done for himself, unwilling to permit her foundation to be merely excellent when it could achieve monstrous potential.

Subsequently, he guided her into the Abyssal Pool.

Her trust in him was absolute.

However, this did not render the process a comfortable experience.

At one critical juncture, Vivian partially opened an eye amidst the immense pressure, stating with strained composure, "Brother."

Lucien met her gaze.

"If I manage to survive this ordeal, I am informing Mother that you described this as significantly gentler than it actually is."

Lucien offered a smile.

"That is entirely fair."

She not only survived but thrived.

Her very being underwent a transformation.

The Celestial essence of her existence intensified. Her Wings of Atonement and Halo of Absolution resonated with a purer frequency. Her foundation expanded, gaining profound weight and a far greater capacity to support subsequent laws without succumbing to their immense pressure.

Cielius underwent a parallel advancement.

Several others experienced similar transformations.

Skittles and the slimes required considerably less direct intervention.

The slimes treated the Abyssal Pool as if it were some kind of deceptively agreeable spa.

The first time Lucien witnessed Skittles joyfully leap into the pool, closely followed by several others, he observed them for a prolonged period before concluding, once again, that slimes were a delightful error in reality's design.

Skittles attained the Celestial Realm.

Several of the other slimes achieved this distinction as well.

Oreo, Nyxis, Spryn, Drayn, Morphy. Even the Nihility Slimes progressed, albeit in their characteristically eerie and quiet manner.

Their ascensions were not marked by boisterous celebrations.

They simply became more formidable, continuing their usual movements as if no significant event had transpired.

Sparkles and Lucien’s other cherished companions necessitated more hands-on assistance, yet they too made considerable progress.

The inner circle of Lootwell experienced a collective rise in power.

By their own metrics, this advancement was gradual; by any other standard, it was astonishing.

Other factions typically elevate a Celestial being through generations of meticulously hoarded wealth, ruthless meritocratic selection, rare inherited blessings, fortuitous breakthroughs in understanding, and the guardianship of ancient beings over hidden resources for centuries.

Lootwell, upon observing such methods, perceived it as an inefficient production challenge.

Lucien was acutely aware of the inherent dangers.

He was equally cognizant of its absolute necessity.

The world was undergoing profound changes: the Black Mass had stirred, abyssal entities had commenced their movements, and Primordial Incarnations were no longer confined to the realm of distant myths. The hidden architecture of the universe had begun to reveal its perilous nature.

A domain populated by individuals of ordinary talent would prove insufficient.

He required monstrous powerhouses of his own.

Beings who would stand unyieldingly beside him when the true scope of the impending conflict ceased its pretense of being merely regional.

And thus, Lootwell’s influence expanded.